Dropped EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS in a stream.

<p>Emmett -<br>

More than likely the lens elements can be saved if they're cleaned and dismantled. Otherwise there might be some acids and other nasties in the stream which may eat at the coatings.<br>

As for the electronics, that's a different story. I have yet to see a USM ring motor go bad physically. The electronics which drive the USM, that's a different story. Same with the EMD. <br>

Internal mechanics should also be good such as the focus cams and zoom cams. Canon builds them quite robustly. <br>

Send it off to Canon. Get an estimate on the repair. I've had to repair my 70-200 2.8L since it was dropped from someone borrowing it. Had to take the entire thing apart so I'm quite familiar how they're put together. And yes, I got mine working fully. They're not too hard to work on if you know what you're doing.</p>

<p>Emmett -<br>

Also if you're trying to dry out the lens, nothing works better than some packs of desicant silica gel. Make sure they're brand new fresh packs. Just put the lens in a ziplock bag, add some desicant gel and squeeze out all the air in the bag, then seal shut. Much more effective than the "rice" trick.<br>

About the only water damaged piece that I have not been able to recover was a friends Canon 5D body. But that was in a flooded basement with plenty of iron oxide in the water. It died a horrible death.</p>

<p>I would get a waterproof bag and a lens raincover from think tank. I would also always put the camera strap around my neck when taking shots. Also you should have a great ball head and a nice tripod that secure your camera when shooting creeks and landscapes. Last year I dropped my lens in the airport, broke the filter, knocked the focus out of whack. Cost $125 to fix. A camera vest would also help with deep big pockets. I use a vested interest vest. You can find just type vested interest in google and you find it. </p>

<p>I have that lens. I would just send it straight to Canon asap. No home remedy is going to fix it.<br /> (Hilarious comment about not taking your precious equipment near water!)</p>

<p>Guys,</p>

<p>Canon will not touch it, they will not repair it and they won't quote for it. They will class it as an uneconomical repair, they have to because they can't warranty it. That is a sad fact of water damage.</p>

<p>Please, everybody, stop saying, send it to Canon, that is not the answer in this instance.</p>

<p>That is not true if is not badly damaged they will look at it. I would open up the lens and let the water dry out and then try to send it in and see if they can fix it. This also depends on how much damage you have in this lens. You really have to be careful with your gear and always have the strap around your neck and have a mat to lay your lens on or a belt or camera vest not to have lens fall into the water or worse fall off a cliff. Never leave a tripod unattended either, wind will knock it over. I can promise you that. </p>

<p>If water has touched the electronics it's DOA.</p>

<p>Robert Body,</p>

<p>Make no mistake, my 70-200 f/2.8 IS lens is going on 7 years old, and it is one of my very favorite lenses. I don't abuse it for fun. I just use it, and at this point in time, it has seen more showers, and more water in general, than many people have encountered. If a seal lets go, and it becomes a canteen at this point in time, it owes me nothing, and I'll cry for a minute, but I'll deal with it, and expect the same service from it's replacement. Of course, it still seems far from retirement at the present time....</p>

<p>Here is a shot of the very same lens I washed in the shower, mounted on the same 40D body that was protected by the clear garbage bag in the shower. The only difference is that there was also a Canon 1.4x tele extender in place when I took this shot tonight. No, I do not use filters on my sealed lenses unless it is for photographic effect, but I do use a factory hood at all times, and with most all of my lenses instead. This "shower series", including this follow up shot has been the only time that some people who know me very well have ever seen this lens without it's hood in place.<br>

<img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4072/4637977297_b5c8eb40df.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="375" /></p>

<p>That shot was made with my trusty G9 and a bounced 580EXII strobe. Just to show that the lens really is clear of water damage, I swapped the 580EXII to the 40D, and took a pic of the G9 with the 70-200 f/2.8 IS lens, with the 1.4x extender still in place. That makes for pretty shallow DOF wide open at under 6', no? Both shots are direct RAW to jpg conversions, and no cropping was applied. I love that big lens, and would never hurt it on purpose. Then again, if it couldn't take a casual dip in a stream, I'd have it repaired, as it would have clearly been broken to begin with..... The EXIF data is intact for shot details.</p>

<p><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4025/4637976311_2ac832e07b.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /></p>

<p> </p>

<p>Robert,<br /> Here is the big eye view of the same lens after nearly seven years with only a hood for front element protection, a global passport, and many salt and fresh water showers along the way. This was it's exact front end configuration during the shower shot. I hate it that anyone suffered an innocent water loss with a similar lens, but a Mercedes Benz with a defective windshield seal will get wet inside during a rainstorm, and might suffer serious electrical damage. That doesn't suggest that people who own such cars should only drive them on a dry, sunny day though.</p>

<p>I tend to keep what I buy over time, rather than sell it off to finance new purchases. If I do sell something hiding in a box unused, rather than just give it away, it's condition is perfect, or close to it. If I kill it, I bury it. I would never sell someone Mediterranean sea salt, and charge them for a salt shaker that looks like an $1800 lens....</p>

<p>When this lens dies, I'll have it's carcass mounted and framed. If I die first, someone else could worry about it's future disposition while they put it to work for a year or ten. I just hope they wash it once in awhile. Adventure dirt builds up fast on a favorite lens....<br /> <img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3275/4638669558_f542944e02_b.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="768" /></p>

<p> </p>

<p>The OP's wet lens is basically totaled. Heartbreaking.</p>

<p>Jim, that's great to see someone who gets so much out of their lens... any chance of seeing some of your pictures in your profile on photo.net? Or in this thread? I mean pictures taken with your favorite lens, or others.<br>

My lenses have come and gone, I only have a Nikon 50mm f/1.8 that I kept since 1999. But I never owned a 70-200mm f/2.8 IS... yet. Hopefully that is about to change in the next 10 days...</p>

<p>Thanks for the suggestions and sympathies! :o)<br>

It's now in several parts in a drawer and completely dried out, the main front eye glass element has water spots internally.<br>

I have decided to take a gamble on buying a damaged lens and making either a heroic attempt to repair it or possibly a silly botched attempt. Either way I need to clear my mind of atleast trying. <br>

In the meantime will buy another too (the faulty ones don't appear often), and I need a replacement fast. Shooting a wedding in Liverpool the other day was a stark reminder. I guess my wee 50mm f/1.4 USM saved me there (see pic).<br>

Well, chin up I guess karma will reward me with a Leica M9 someday (or i'll wake up with egg on my face).<br>

I've also learned H Lehmann are unreliable and vague at best, theres a great community here (i'll be here more often), Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L's can be showered, and theres a lot of people willing to take a risk for a great shot.<br>

I'm already planning a press shoot with a DJ that involves an underwater studio, and a wedding shoot in a lake.<br>

Thanks again,<br>

Emmett<br>

<img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4042/4650366526_80b4468516_o.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="918" /></p>

<p>Liverpool Photographer | http://www.robertemmett.co.uk</p>

<p><br />I did the exact same thing in Sadoina, AZ. I dried as much as I couild with a cloth and then used the only tool I had available.... my car! I started my car and turned on the defroster as high as it would go. Please understand that the defroster in a car runs the air conditioner. The outside air is passed over the A/C evaporator to dehumidify it and then across the heater core to heat it. The result is hot dry air on the windshiled. I simply stet the lens on top of the defroster discharge, turning it about every 20 minutes or so. I did this for two hours. The result? I have been using the lens for over a year since the "accident" with no problems! All it cost is some fuel to run the car's engine. Hope this helps...</p>

<p> </p>

<p><br />I did the exact same thing in Sadoina, AZ. I dried as much as I couild with a cloth and then used the only tool I had available.... my car! I started my car and turned on the defroster as high as it would go. Please understand that the defroster in a car runs the air conditioner. The outside air is passed over the A/C evaporator to dehumidify it and then across the heater core to heat it. The result is hot dry air on the windshiled. I simply stet the lens on top of the defroster discharge, turning it about every 20 minutes or so. I did this for two hours. The result? I have been using the lens for over a year since the "accident" with no problems! All it cost is some fuel to run the car's engine. Hope this helps...</p>

<p> </p>

<p><br />I did the exact same thing in Sadona, AZ. I dried as much as I could with a cloth and then used the only tool I had available.... my car! I started my car and turned on the defroster as high as it would go. Please understand that the defrost system in a car runs the air conditioner. The outside air is passed over the A/C evaporator to dehumidify it and then across the heater core to heat it. The result is hot dry air on the windshiled. I simply set the lens on top of the defroster discharge, turning it about every 20 minutes or so. I did this for two hours. The result? I have been using the lens for over a year since the "accident" with no problems! All it cost is some fuel to run the car's engine. Hope this helps...</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Brace yourselves - </p>

<p><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4652974388_820a3a9d17.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="204" /><br>

Large: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4652974388_e9302f1f47_o.jpg</p>

<p><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4045/4652354545_b380327ea0.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="305" /><br>

Large: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4045/4652354545_5a46dd4705_o.jpg</p>

<p>Eeeek!</p>

<p>Nice pics. That's actually the beginning portion of opening the lens completely up. I would suspect the boards first and foremost. You might have to get at each one of the elements and clean them up due to the water damage. </p>